Finally getting my seahorse started!

[Weasel1960]

Cassi, where did you get your chain? Does it float or do you have it tied off to something?

 

[cassilyn]

Cassi, where did you get your chain? Does it float or do you have it tied off to something?

I got it at amazon.com:

Amazon product

Amazon product

I have it attached to small pieces of live rock with some epoxy putty. It works great.

 

[cassilyn]

Better picture of my tank. I changed the blue lighting some. Now you can see the aquascape a little better, along with all the hair algae waiting on the black sailfin blenny I have on order lol!

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[cassilyn]

I got my ponies yesterday! They are amazing. I have one really tiny baby and one that is about twice her size, but still only about 4 inches long. They came to me bright-eyed and doing great. They settled right into the aquarium, taking to the hitching posts right away. I fed them a few hours after they arrived and the bigger one ate that time. Then I fed them again before bedtime and they both ate. So I'm very, very happy. This morning they are still doing great and both eating. I definitely recommend Alyssa's Seahorse Savvy to anyone looking to set up with seahorses. It has been an awesome experience all the way around. I'll try to take some good pictures and post them later today. Thanks again, everyone. Without the help and guidance I have received here, I don't know that I would have been brave enough to try seahorses but now they are in my tank!

 

[Weasel1960]

Good to hear you got them and that they are doing well. Can’t wait to see the pics.

 

[cassilyn]

Hey everyone!

Sorry it's been a while, but life has been...life. I caught this tonight after the lights went out. I've had them for a month now, and the ponies couldn't be better. My tank is now running so nicely, and the other fish are healthy and happy too (I only have a clown and a firefish so far). I just thought I'd share....

 

[Weasel1960]

Good to hear....I can relate to the life thing right now. Video didn’t work for me but glad to hear it’s going well with ponies.

 

[cassilyn]

Does anyone else have ponies that like to hide in caves? My little boy found a cave that’s a perfect fit and spends a lot of his time just hanging out in it. How can I entice him out other than feeding time? There are plenty of other hitching posts and he seems to be just fine
Cassi

 

[Weasel1960]

Is he just shy or is something intimidating him, another tank mate perhaps? @Paulie069 might be able to shed light I think he keeps ponies or knows of others

 

[ThePurple12]

IME hanging around in a cave is a bad sign (sickness), but I've heard pregnant males can also be more reclusive. Is he still eating well? Breathing normally?

If he starts to decline, put him in a bucket with fresh saltwater and a clean hitching post, with 100% water changes daily until he recovers. That's what worked for me, at least.

 

[Weasel1960]

Thanks @ThePurple12 I knew there was someone else talking ponies just couldn’t remember who...hope that helps Cassi.

 

[Paulie069]

Is he just shy or is something intimidating him, another tank mate perhaps? @Paulie069 might be able to shed light I think he keeps ponies or knows of others

I’ve found that nothing ever bothers seahorses, I have large hermit crabs, aggressive fish,(2 damsels) that are bully’s but they have never once bothered any of my ponies, at moment I have 5 seahorses and 8 fish in my reef tank
I was told when I first started my aquarium that you can’t mix fish with seahorses,, well it’s been a year with no problem,,
So I wouldn’t worry about your pony staying in cave , he probably happy in there,,, much luck with your seahorses

 

[Paulie069]

Not even this guy messes with them

 

[Dark_Knightt]

You could add some macroalgae to the display, it would recreate a cool environment, the kind seahorses naturally live in, plus it would give them lots of places to hang on too. And hide if needed.

 

[cassilyn]

I’ve found that nothing ever bothers seahorses, I have large hermit crabs, aggressive fish,(2 damsels) that are bully’s but they have never once bothered any of my ponies, at moment I have 5 seahorses and 8 fish in my reef tank
I was told when I first started my aquarium that you can’t mix fish with seahorses,, well it’s been a year with no problem,,
So I wouldn’t worry about your pony staying in cave , he probably happy in there,,, much luck with your seahorses

He isn't being pestered by any of the other fish. They are all very docile and stay away from him. I think he may have been pregnant with his first brood. I think we only had one baby, is that possible for the first time? He's still very young. He came out of the cave for about 24 hours and just hung out in the tank. Now he's back in the cave. He eats just fine, but I'm still worried about him. Anyone have any ideas about how to entice him out?

 

[ThePurple12]

@rayjay might have some thoughts

 

[Paulie069]

He isn't being pestered by any of the other fish. They are all very docile and stay away from him. I think he may have been pregnant with his first brood. I think we only had one baby, is that possible for the first time? He's still very young. He came out of the cave for about 24 hours and just hung out in the tank. Now he's back in the cave. He eats just fine, but I'm still worried about him. Anyone have any ideas about how to entice him out?

Reach out to @rayjay , he might be able to shed some light on this subject,, what you think @rayjay

 

[MERKEY]

Hope you're doing good @Paulie069

Saturday SPLAM for you!

 

[cassilyn]

Hi @Paulie069 ! Thanks for reaching out. I've needed to update everyone for a while now.

My tank is doing great and the seahorses are amazing. They were doing their courting dance just last week, so fingers crossed. I have no idea how to raise the babies if they have some so I need to do some research.

I now have two Northern erectus seahorses (thinking about getting a second pair from Alyssa at www.seahorsesavvy.com), an ocellarius clown (I'm pretty sure that's what he is - he's a character), a firefish, and a new black sailfin blenny, and new fathead sunburst anthia. Everyone gets along very well with no food competition or bullying. I also have a red finger gorgonian, yellow finger gorgonian (both are doing great and growing well - they both had ends break off that we just glued to a rock and are growing well too!), a slit pore (which is beautiful), and a purple ribbon. I'll post pics today.

Sorry I've been AWOL lately, but I've been horribly busy with grad school and, you know, life happens. I'll try to catch up with everyone's tanks this summer. Only one week left til school's out (thank goodness - I need a break).

 

[cassilyn]

If you look close you can see the little girl between the red finger gorgonian and the ribbon coral and the little boy in the cave on the right - he hangs out there all the time unless they are courting. I have more pics of the corals and the rest of the tank if anyone is interested. Just let me know.